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Best Meditation Centers In The Los Angeles Area

June 30, 2014 5:00 AM

(credit: Mark Leibowitz)

(credit: istockphoto)

Though it comes in many forms rooted in various traditions, a regular meditation practice can dramatically change your life. Less stress, better sleep, greater happiness — these are just of the few of the perks that come with incorporating mindful meditation into your daily life. Most people think meditating is about quieting your mind, but really it’s about creating a mindful awareness, embracing your thoughts and letting them flow through you like water. Find the best meditation center for you at one of these popular places in Los Angeles.

Unplug Meditation is a guided meditation studio that offers quick drop-in classes in a very approachable setting and minimalist environment. Stretch your legs out, get comfortable and melt into your own existence when you get unplugged at this promising meditation center perfect for beginners and advanced meditators alike. “It’s ideal for people who want to dip their toes in and sample a variety of meditation styles and teachers,” says celebrity meditation teacher Light Watkins. Founder and fashion editor Suze Yalof Schwartz opened the doors to Unplug Mediation in April 2014 after experiencing difficulty finding meditation classes that fit her busy lifestyle and high-end taste.

Kadampa Meditation Center Hollywood is a temple that offers spiritual programs in modern Buddhism for meditators of all levels. With a commitment to spreading happiness while putting an end to suffering, Kadampa empowers people to transform adversity into opportunities for growth and transformation. There are a lot of great classes and workshops you can take to learn more about mindful meditation, modern Buddhism and Buddhist psychology. “The temple is beautiful with an eight foot Buddha statue and a kind loving community,” says LA resident Sharon Jackubecy who has been into meditation since 2003.

Lake Shrine remains the most popular meditation center in LA and comes highly recommended by more than a handful of locals and mediation experts. This Hindu temple and mediation center is found in a soothing, relaxing environment featuring tons of nature from around the world. Located atop a hill overlooking a natural, spring-fed lake, the temple has become a spiritual sanctuary to all who visit. “It’s a very quiet place to think and get your bearings if you are a busy individual,” says local PR professional Ronjini Joshua. “It’s free to go and beautiful for a romantic walk as well.”

Offering free guided meditation classes, workshops, retreats and community events weekly and monthly, Shambhala Meditation Center focuses on the cultivation of an enlightened society. At the very core of this meditation is the teachings of Shambhala, which is a mythical kingdom that encompasses an ideal society centered around the notion that all beings are inherently good. Shambhala offers a somewhat traditional mediation experience, but no previous meditation experience is necessary for attending any of the free classes.

If you prefer private meditation classes, Dr. Singh, founder of the Center for Energy Medicine, is an excellent resource who has meditated at a handful of other meditation centers across Los Angeles. His private meditation classes provide a safe and comfortable introduction to meditation and have been known to help people become more balanced and focused in their everyday life. “The best meditation center for someone is what fits a person and fills their soul,” says Dr. Singh. “But you also want a place or a system that can deliver and that will take a person in the right direction toward enlightenment and away from suffering, or at least stress reduction.” Dr. Singh recommends visiting different meditation centers and observing what kind of energy the devotees emanate as a good indicator as to whether you’ll get the results you seek from meditation.